Auto jack



Oct. 14, 1947. c. CHRISTOPHER AUTO JACK Filed July 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iNVENTOR.

Oct. 14, 1947.

AUTO JACK Filed J uly 22, 1946 w 2 t n I y .a m w n h .41. r t S Wk '10 w [a a a 6 p 2 1r. w 0 0M w! Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT F FICE AUTO JACK Robert C. Christopher, Chicago, Ill. Application July 22,1946, Serial No. 685,545 12 Claims. (01. 254 9s) My invention relates to automobile jacks, preferably of the type which may be used in connection with supporting, or raising a car by engagement of certain portions of my jack invention with the bumper'of the automobile, which usually, is equipped providing accessto the jacking up of the front, or the rear of the automobile.

A prime object of my invention is to provide an automobile jack, which is comprised of a cylinder and piston structure confining a gas expansion compartment, the said jack being distendible or extensible by means of chemical reaction, thus requiring no mechanical means for lifting the car, hence operating on the pneumatic principle.

Anoher object of my invention is to provide a jack of the afore-mentioned a limited articulate movement in its attachment to the base of the jack.

A further object of my invention is t provide an adjustable bumper support, which can headjusted to various raised, or lowered positions,-

A further object of my invention is to provide in a. jack of the afore-mentioned character, pro- .vided. with a hollow piston structure'having a liquid containing cavity therein, it being further provided with valve means for permitting certain portions of the sa d liquid to be passed into the gas chamber of the said jack body, the body also being provided with means for placing therein a chemical cartridge which, in its reaction with the liquid supplied, will create gas pressure suflicient to lift and raise the said jack, and/or the load supported thereon.

A further object of my invention is 'to provide a jack having a dual purpose, one in being capable of raising a load on the one hand, the said load being raised through chemical action as heretofore mentioned; yet when the load is to be lowered the gas under pressure confined within the jack body may be exhausted, or may be connected through suitable connecting means, such as a hose to tires, using the gas pressure confined within the jack for inflation of the said tire.

Another object of my invention is to provide a jack of the afore-mentioned character, which is responsive and reactable through gas pressure generated therein, the saidlack means being also useful for inflation purposes of tires when not used for raising a load.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automobile jack of the afore-mentioned character which is practical, and efllcient'in construction, and operation, which can be used for raising a load, or as an inflation pump, the entire structure being of such simpleelemental arrangement with front and rear bumpers, thus a character, which has of the keyway 54 will abut against the lip l3 as a and in the collapsed movement, the recess portion 36 causes the shoulders 62 and 63 to rest as to warrant economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other features, related. objects,- and ancillary advantages inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, wherein like symbols desig nate like parts, and in which;

Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary side view of my invention, with a certain portion thereof indicated in cross-section, in

order to more clearly depict the structural features thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a view looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 on Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken looking in the direction of arrows 4-4 'on Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a composite view showinghow the jack, comprising my invention, may be used in order to act as an inflation pump for a tire.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-6 ofFig. 1.

, Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view taken, substantially, on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the various views, my invention is generally designated 9. It consists of a cylinder, or body I, having a substantially open top, and a closed bottom portion II. The said bottom portion is secured firmly to a pivoting stud 55 having a headed portion 59 which is slightly rounded, or arcuate, as indicated 60. The said pivoting stud 55 is secured to the base 56 which is provided with an extension 51 having a recess 58, a securing nut 10 holding the body ill in lim-- ited adjustable and pivotal movement. The said jack body l0 has a compartment therein II, which will be designated as the gas expansion chamber for motivating the piston H, which is also hollow and has a. cavity l9 therein. The piston is provided with piston rings l5 for sealing the operation thereofwithin the chamber l2, the upper portion of the body or cylinder It) being provided with a lip I 3, the piston being provided with a mating keyway 54, in which the said lip. operates, so that on its upward travel, the bottom stop,

on one another, in order to maintain the Jack in its collapsed position.

The cavity l9 within the piston is used for filling the same with a suitable liquid, which will valve stem have the-proper reaction when admitted into the chamber I2, subsequently to the insertion of a chemically reactive cartridge 46 within the compartment, or cavity l2. The substances that may be used could be sodium for the cartridge 46, and

water. for the liquid 45. The liquidis admitted into the gornpartment l2, by means of a valve structureconsisting of the valve element I1, of frustmconical shape, which seats against the frustc-conical valve opening |6, in the bottom H of the piston, and which will admit small quantitles of the liquid 45 to drop down into the cavity l2 below the bottom 4 of the piston.

The top portion of the piston is reinforced as indicated at 29 and is provided with an inner guide bearing 2| having a bore 3| therein to guide the valve stem I6 in its movement when the trigger 21 is manipulated. The top of the l8 has secured thereto a button-head 22, the portion below the button-head 22 being counter-bored, in order to confine therein the resilient spring element 25 which is a compression type of spring, the topof the piston also having a keyway 23, which has a closed portion at the top thereof designated, 24, so that when the button-head 22 is depressed below the lowermost portion of the portion 24, air will be allowed to filter into the water compartment, thus furnishing a venting means, so that the water, or liquid 45 that is dispensed therefrom, will be replaced by a quantity of air sufficient to maintain the physical equilibrium within the confines of the cavity l9.

To manipulate the valve 11, the trigger 21 is mounted pivotably at 28 on the two ears formed at the top portion of the piston casting, the said trigger being provided with a handle 29 which is the manipulating portion thereof, and an actuating portion 30, preferably of a hemispherical shape at its end, so as to equalize the frictional action over the top surface of the button-head 22, and to facilitate the translation of motion when the valve is manipulated; the valve being manipulated upwardly toward the dotted lines causinga depression of'the valve |1 admitting some of the liquid into the compartment |2, release of the handle 29 causing the resilient spring 25 instantly to bring it back to normal position indicated by the full lines in Fig. 1.

To replenish the compartment l9 with liquid 45, a. screw plug or filler means is provided and designated 32. By removal of the same liquid may be funnelled into the cavity I9, then the plug" 32 caused to seal the same properly. The jack is provided with a cradle portion 43 at its top supported on suitable reinforcement 4| which, incidentally, provides the recessed opening 42 to mount the trigger mechanism therein. The cradle portion 43 may also be encased in rubber, or other non-marring resilient material, so that the bumper 44 of an automobile may be cradled therein when it is desired to jack up, or raise, or elevate an automobile, or similar load. Another bumper support is also indicated and designated 31 which consists of a hook portion having a series of teeth 39 which are arcuately formed, the said hook 31 being part of a ring structure 46, smoothly and rotatively operable about the outside of the piston body 20 at the upper portion thereof, and also theoutside of the body 9 which is preferably finished so as to permit sliding of the ring-like structure 46, for effectuating a preliminary adjustment, thus minimizing the expansion requirement to be providteeth 34.

ed by the chemical reaction taking place within the confines of the chamber |2.

This hook-like structure 31 is suitably encased in a rubber casing 38 to prevent marring the bumper structure 49, and it serves to cradle the bumper structure for elevation or lowering purposes, as the case may necessitate.

To the outer body portion 20 of the piston, I secure by welding or other suitable means, as indicated at 35, a rack 33 having teeth 34, which will cooperate and enter into meshing engagement with the teeth 39 in order, to effectuate a fixed level position, as apreliminary setting preparatory to raising the bumper 49. The setting of this arrangement is made as follows: The jack is brought up to the car, and if desired, the hook 31 is grasped, and looking at Fig. 6, is rotated in the direction of the arrows 65, so as to bring the teeth 39 out of mesh with the Then the teeth 34 are brought into the confines of the clearance opening 6|, thus permitting the ring 46 to be moved, vertically, up and down to whatever height is desired; then to maintain the ring at the proper height, or lowered position, the ring is swung in the direction of the arrows from the dotted position back to the full position, causing the proper teeth 39 to enmesh with the teeth 34 in the elevation desired, thus raising or lowering of the hook-like support 31 may be effectuated.

The lower portion of the jack body In is providedwith a threaded opening 60 to which I secure, the headed bushing 65 having a reduced shoulder portion secured attached by virtue of the threaded portion 66. The headed portion of the bushing 65 serves the purpose of confining rotatably the closure 41, or cap 41, which is in turn provided with a threaded portion secured to a threaded washer 61, rotatably operative about the body of the bushing 65, the head thereof confining the cap 41 from behind removed. The top surface of the cap 41 is provided with an opening 63 which is an elongated slot, and the body of the bushing is provided with a mating opening 52 therethrough, so that when the two are rotated to register in alignment as indicated in Fig. 1, a cartridge or pill 46 may be passed therethrough into the cavity l2.

The said opening may also be utilized for preliminarily moving the piston l4 upwardly when making a preliminary adjustment of the jack to meet the normal position of a bumper, when the car is resting on its wheels, the passageways 52 and 53 being in alignment permit air to come into the chamber l2, below the piston l4, so that when the same are closed or offset, as indicated in Fig. 4, the air confined therein will not escape and the chemical reaction to take place will generate additional gases to begin elevating the car, or the load.

The cap 41 is limited in rotation by virtue of having an undercut portion 49, and a screw 48 is secured, its head confining the rotational movement of the cap 41, which moves within an ambit as indicated approximately by the arrows 66. The central portion of the bushing 65 and the cap 41 have attached thereto a standard pneumatic valve 50, so that when a valve hose, or air pressure hose 5| is connected thereto, the said valve is automatically opened, and will permit the pressure confined within the compartment |2 to be passed out therethrough. Thus, if the car is to be lowered subsequently to its having been elevated, an air pressure hose 5| may be connected to the valve 56, and thus the gas confined therein in the said body and v engageable part of a load, valve I tom portion of the said piston, trigger means v the said body and inthe said body'and will come out rather slowly, and make for a very gentle lowering of the load, or automobile.

My invention may also be utilized as a pump aside from its ideal advantages as an automobile, or load elevating device, through the same operation, that is, by feeding, or passing a cartridge, or pill 46 into the confines of the chamber 12. After the piston will have reached its maxi- ,murntravel wherein the lip I3 is in abutment-with the shoulder on the piston, then a continual expension of the gases will be fofced out through the tire 61' through 1 its valve 68, or, in other words, act asa'n inflation pump by the use of the hose 69. When the iaok is in its collapsed position, the shoulder 6 2 will The jackpiston the air hose and inflate rest against the shoulder 63. can be easily manipulated by causing the alignment of the valve opening admitting air into chamber l2.

I believe, I have herein disclosed, and described, rather succinctly. the structure, the application, and use 01' my invention, and inasmuch as the same are susceptible of modification, improvements, and alterations, I hereby reserve the right to all such modifications, alterations, and improvements coming within the scope and spirit of nryinvention, as well as any of those that are impllably suggested or embraced in the accompanying drawings, and also all those that fall within the purview of the foregoing description; my invention to be limited only'by the subioined claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, 9, jackbody, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, means secured to the said head portion for cradling an means in the botoperati-vely associated with th' said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured tothe lowermost por-' tion of the said jack body, and inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means.

2. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body,{adjustable means secured to the said head portion for cured to the said jack closure means, and a cradling anengageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom'portion of the said piston,

trigger means cooperatively associated with the saldvalve means cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said jack body, and in flation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means. 3. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, toothed adjustable means secured to thesaid head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively'associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure. means secured to the lowermost portion oi the said jack body, and inand adapted to open the same,

flation and. exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means.

4. A'combination inflation pump and load liiting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top oi. said jack body, means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure meansseeured to the lowermost portion of thesaid jack body, inflation .ilnd exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, and a base element articulately secured to the-said jack body. I

" "5. A combination inflation pump and load liftcradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said Jack body, inflation andexhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, and a, base element articulately sebody.

6. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, toothed adjustable means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a, load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridgein'sertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said ja'ck body, inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said base element articulately secured to the said jack body.

7. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body. a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said Jack body, means secured to the said head portion for cradling an a load, valvemeans in the bottom. portion of the said piston, trigger means .cooperatively associated with the said valve bushing element secured to the said jack body, a

cap element rotatably fitted on the head of said" bushing element, a washer element secured to the said cap element rotatably fitted over the body and below the head of the said bushing element, a through passage-way in the said bushing element in eccentric relationship with the axis thereof, a mating opening in the said cap element adapted to register with the said passageway, and means limiting the rotation of the said cap element.

8. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, adjustable means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said jack body, and inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, eluding, a headed bushing element secured to the said jack body, a cap element rotatably fitted on bushing element, a washer element secured to the said cap element rotatably fitted over the body and below the head of the said bushing element, a through passage-way in the said bushing element in eccentric relationship with the axis thereof, a mating opening inthe said cap element adapted to register with the said passage-way, and means limiting the rotation of the said cap element.

9. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, toothed adjustable means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said jack body, and inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, the said closure means including, a headed bushing element secured to the said jack body, a cap element rotat ably fitted on the head of said bushing element, a washer element secured to the said cap element rotatably fitted over the body and below the head of the said bushing element, a through passageway in the said bushing element in eccentric relationship with the axis thereof, a mating opening in the said cap element adapted to register with the said passage-way, and means limiting the rotation of the said cap element.

10. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said jack body, and inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, and a base element articulately secured to the said jack body, the said closure means including, a headed bushing element secured to the said jack body, a cap element rotatably fitted on element, a washer element secured to the said cap element rotatably fitted over the body and below the head of the said bushing element, a through passage-way in the said bushing element the head of said bushing the said closure means inin eccentric relationship with the axis thereof, a mating opening in the said cap element adapted to register with the said passage-way, and means limiting the rotation of the said cap element.

11. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jackbody, adjustable means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said jack body, and inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, and a base element articulately secured to the said jack body, the said closure means including, a headed bushing element secured to the said jack body, a cap element rotatably fitted on the head of said bushing element, a washer element secured to the said cap element rotatably fitted over the body and below the head of the said bushing element, a through passage-way in the said bushing element in eccentric relationship with the axis thereof, a mating opening in the said cap element adapted to register with the said passageway, and means limiting the rotation of the said cap element.

12. A combination inflation pump and load lifting jack comprising, a jack body, a hollow liquid retaining piston telescopically fitted to operate in the said body and having a head portion extending beyond the top of said jack body, toothed adjustable means secured to the said head portion for cradling an engageable part of a load, valve means in the bottom portion of the said piston, trigger means cooperatively associated with the said valve means and adapted to open the same, cartridge insertion closure means secured to the lowermost portion of the said jack body, and inflation and exhaust valve means secured to the said closure means, and a base element articulately secured to the said jack body, the said closure means including, a headed bushing element secured to the said jack body, a cap element rotatabiy fitted on the head of said bushing element, a washer element secured to the said cap element rotatably fitted over the body and below the head of the said bushing element, a through passage-way in the said bushing element in eccentric relationship with the axis thereof, a mating opening in the said cap element adapted to register with the said passage-way, and means limiting the rotation of the said cap element.

ROBERT C. CHRISTOPHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT 

